AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Indians Can Explain Loss, Not Fielder’s Homers

The Cleveland Indians intentionally walked Cecil Fielder once Tuesday night. Maybe they should do it more often.

Fielder hit two more home runs against Cleveland, leading the Detroit Tigers past the Indians, 10-4, Tuesday night.

Fielder, who nearly homered over the left-field roof Monday, has hit five of his 15 homers this season against the Indians. His three runs batted in moved him into the American League lead with 55.

“We’ve studied (video)tapes and everything else,” Cleveland Manager Mike Hargrove said. “I don’t know what else we can do. He hits a lot of home runs, and he seems to hit a lot of them against us. When Cecil gets hot, he gets hot, especially in this ballpark.”

Fielder went two for three. He drew an intentional walk and struck out with bases loaded in his other plate appearances.

“I don’t know why I hit Cleveland pitching,” Fielder said. “I never really thought about it, to tell the truth. I seem to get good pitches. It’s kind of freaky. They just catch me at a time when I’m going good.”

Bill Krueger (5-2), taking over from starter Buddy Groom at the start of the fourth inning with a 5-2 lead, got the victory. Krueger gave up two runs on five hits in 3 2/3 innings.

Toronto 6, Minnesota 3--John Olerud extended his hitting streak to 20 games and improved his batting average to .405 with three doubles, driving in three runs and leading the Blue Jays to the victory at Minneapolis.

Olerud’s streak is the AL’s longest this year.

Juan Guzman (6-1), coming off his only loss of the season, gave up four hits, walked one and struck out seven in eight innings. Duane Ward pitched the ninth for his 18th save, retiring the side on three pitches.

The Twins’ Tapani (3-7), a 16-game winner each of the last two seasons, continued to struggle, giving up six hits and a season-high four walks in six innings.

Baltimore 4, Milwaukee 2--Brady Anderson and Mark McLemore hit consecutive home runs and Jamie Moyer allowed four hits over seven innings as the Orioles beat the Brewers at Milwaukee for their 12th win in 13 games.

Anderson, who has now homered in three consecutive games, drove a 2-1 pitch from Ricky Bones (3-4) just over the fence to lead off the sixth. McLemore then hit an 0-1 pitch on a line over the fence in right for a 3-1 lead.

Moyer’s victory enabled him to win consecutive starts for the first time since April 1989 when he was with Texas. Moyer (2-3) walked three and struck out five.

New York 9, Boston 7--Bernie Williams had a run-scoring single during an eight-run fifth inning at New York and later hit a solo home run, giving the Yankees their fifth victory in their last six games. Boston has lost nine of 10.

Williams, who hit a grand slam in Monday’s 4-0 victory, has driven in nine runs in three games.

Neal Heaton (1-0) was the winner and Steve Farr got his 16th save.

Frank Viola (4-7) lost again, making him 0-6 in seven starts since his last victory April 28 at Oakland.

Chicago 4, Oakland 0--Wilson Alvarez pitched a three-hitter and faced just 28 batters as the White Sox beat the Athletics at Oakland.

Alvarez (6-2) gave up three singles, had a career-high 11 strikeouts and walked one. He did not allow a runner past first base.

Alvarez pitched his first complete game of the season and second career shutout.

Ron Karkovice hit his 11th home run and a run-scoring double in the ninth. His solo homer in the seventh inning off Bob Welch (4-6) made it 3-0.

Seattle 6, Kansas City 1--Ken Griffey hit his 100th career home run and rookie Jim Converse earned his first major league victory as the Mariners defeated the Royals at Seattle for their fourth straight win.

Griffey hit a solo homer and Tino Martinez hit a two-run home run, helping Seattle pull away in the eighth inning. Jay Buhner homered and drove in three runs.